1. Manu’a Trip (Manu'a Islands)
(Note: due to limited space, this site visit is by invitation ONLY; there is a wait-list should space clear up)
  • Cost: $250.00/person
Fly to Manu’a island of Ta’u to see Big Mama! Measuring at 41 meters in circumference and standing over 6 meters high, Big Mama (Porites coral) may be the largest coral in the world. On your first day in American Samoa, you will fly to the island of Ta’u from the island of Tutuila. Once there, a boat will transport you to the dive site where Big Mama is located. Not comfortable diving? That’s ok. Big Mama is so big you can even see her while snorkeling.
After about two hours in the water, you will then be transported to the island of Ofu where you will check-in to one of few lodges in Manu’a. Owned by friendly locals, these lodges provides all the home comforts you love, including access to a full kitchen. You can unwind in the outdoor space that surrounds the cabins and do a little exploring before the sun sets. In the evening, all guests will be treated to a traditional umu- Samoan food that is cooked in an earth oven .
The following day, guest will have the opportunity to explore the islands of Ofu and Olosega. Connected by a narrow bridge, these sister islands are homes to hundreds of sea birds and marine life. Go for a hike on one of NPS trails, or relax on the white-sand beaches that surrounds the islands. After lunch, guests will then pack their belongings and fly back to Tutuila.
  • To learn more about this site visit CLICK HERE​​​
To pay for the Manu'a Trip airfare click on the BUY NOW button below to take you to our event planners' (S.O.F.I.A.S) paypal account
2. Tuafanua Hike (Tutuila)
  • Free
​Group will meet at National Park Visitor Center (VC) in Pago Pago at 8am and travel to Vatia, in the heart of the park, 45 minutes away. Some space in park vehicles will be available, but members of the group will be encouraged to carpool. A guided hike will take the group along the Tuafanua trail. The guides will be park rangers versed on subsistence use in the park and will lead discussions about land and sea based subsistence, both traditional and contemporary. 

3. WWII Heritage Trail Hike (Tutuila)
  • Free
Group will meet at the beach park in Utulei next to Sadies by the Sea at 8am and travel to Gatavai, 5 minutes away. Some space in park vehicles will be available, but members of the group will be encouraged to carpool. A guided hike will take the group along the World War II heritage trail above Utulei. The guides will be park rangers and historians versed on WWII sites on Tutuila. The group will intact six-inch naval guns, relics, bunkers as well as ancient Samoan fortifications and a star mound. The extended WWII trail is within a tropical rainforest. Along the last section of the trail there are quite a few steep steps with ropes that take you to the end of the trail where the remnants of the aerial tramway that used to cross Pago Pago Harbor. This loop hike ends back at the beach park meeting place. ​

4. Aunu'u Island (Tutuila)
  • ​Cost: $40 (additional $4 for ferry paid at the dock)
Known for its unspoiled beauty, genuine hospitality, and strong cultural heritage, Aunu'u Island is a true Pacific treasure. Located Southeast of Tutuila in American Samoa, this charming little island offers superb camping, hiking, swimming, and surfing opportunities. Whether you're looking to hike the trail to the Vaisuatoto Lake or take a quick visit to the Taufusi (wetland taro fields), where the best taro in American Samoa grows, Aunu'u Island is sure to exceed your expectations. Aunu’u is a small, volcanic island with a land area of 0.58 square miles. Major features of the island include Aunu’u Crater, Pala Lake (a unique area of red quicksand), and Faimulivai Marsh, the largest freshwater wetland in American Samoa. The area surrounding the island overlaps with four distinct biogeographic regions, making it a highly diverse marine area that includes hot spots for coral cover, fish biomass, and fish richness. A total of 5.8 square miles of reef and offshore waters around Aunu’u have been included in the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa, with 3.9 square miles designated a research zone and allows surface fishing for pelagics only, and 1.9 square miles multiple use zone that allows traditional and non-destructive fishing practices. The research and multiple use zones will allow for comparisons over time of an area that prohibits the take of reef fish and bottom dwelling species and benefits to an adjacent area of higher human uses that meets the needs of day-to-day living in sustainable ways.
5. Leone Coral Nursery and Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary (Tutuila Island)
  • Cost: Free
In 2012, the Leone Village Council held a series of meeting with local agencies to recognize the importance of mangroves and coral reefs and formulate a management plan that aims to preserve coastal ecosystems. In 2014, the village took part in designing and implementing a coral nursery project within Leone Bay. The model used for planting coral fragments in the reef is referred to as “Fale Samoa”, due to its unique shape resembling a Samoan guest house. Come see more than fifty of these models placed throughout the reef flat. This site visit includes transportation to the village of Leone where you will have the opportunity to snorkel in Leone Bay. 
For the full-day (Aug. 11) site visit, guests will have the opportunity to hike Fagatele Bay. Fagatele Bay is part of the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa (NMS-AS). As part of NMS-AS, Fagatele Bay supports the diversity of marine life, including a wide variety of coral and other invertebrates, fishes, turtles, marine mammals and marine plants. The sanctuary is also the only true tropical reef within the National Marine Sanctuary System, and is the most remote location within that system. NOAA co-manages the sanctuary with the American Samoa Government and works closely with communities adjacent to the sanctuary, all within the context of Samoan cultural traditions and practices.

6. Faga'alu Watershed (Tutuila)
  • Free
​The Faga’alu Watershed is located southwest of Pago Pago near the center of Tutuila island in American Samoa. The watershed comprises of about 0.96 square miles of land area . The inland boundaries of the watershed are delineated by steeper mountain peaks and ridges. In the context of water quality, Faga’alu Bay is also considered a portion of outer Pago Pago Harbor. The primary water quality issues in Faga’alu stream and bay has been documented as originating from the quarry operations. An erosion and sediment control plan was prepared to minimize the occurrence of sediment discharges from the quarry into Faga’alu stream. In this site visit, you will be given a guided tour through the village of Faga’alu from the bay up to the quarry to see how water moves through the watershed and how best management practices can help reduce impacts from upstream activities on coastal areas. ​